Terminal apparatus, control system, and control method for controlling collaboration among a plurality of devices

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, system, and method are provided to cause a controlled device and a controlling terminal to operate in collaboration with each other. A server apparatus stores in advance a plurality of sets of collaboration information which causes the controlled device and the controlling terminal to operate in collaboration with each other. The plurality of sets of collaboration information is respectively stored in association with a plurality of controlled apparatuses different from one another in type. When the controlling terminal requests the server apparatus to send the collaboration information designating the type of the controlled device, the server apparatus sends to the controlling terminal the collaboration information corresponding to the type of the controlled device. The controlled device and the controlling terminal operate in collaboration with each other using the collaboration information.

This is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/075,342, filed Mar.30, 2011, which is based on and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2010-077629, filed Mar. 30, 2010, thecontents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a terminal apparatus, control system,and control method for controlling collaboration among a plurality ofdevices, and more particularly to a technology that enables a controlleddevice and a controlling terminal to operate with each other, therebyrealizing a new function.

2. Related Art

Recently, mobile phone ownership is rapidly increasing with thedevelopment of communication technology, and the number of functionsincorporated in a mobile phone is increasing as well.

Such a mobile phone provides availability at any time and at anylocation due to the high portability thereof. Conventionally, there isknown a technology which, making use of such a feature, enables a useroutside the home to remotely control home devices by way of a mobilephone (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-515698,Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-218563, for example).

Also, there are such mobile phones that provide a function of directaccessibility to a server on a network such as the Internet without anyintervening device such as a personal computer. Conventionally, there isknown a technology which, making use of such a function, enables amobile phone to download a program from a server to realize a newfunction.

Furthermore, there are such mobile phones that have function of apeer-to-peer communication with other devices. Conventionally, there isknown a technology which, making use of such a function, enables amobile phone to acquire authentication information to communicatepeer-to-peer with other device and thereby establish communicationconfiguration (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2006-352286, for example).

Thus, recent mobile phones are becoming more user friendly, as well asbeing able to communicate with other devices, and to remotely controlother devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a control system, including a controlled apparatus, acontrolling terminal, and a server apparatus, which are connected tocommunicate with one another, in which the server apparatus includes: astoring unit that stores a plurality of sets of collaborationinformation each of which causes a controlled apparatus and acontrolling terminal to operate in collaboration with each other, theplurality of sets of collaboration information being respectively storedin association with a plurality of controlled apparatuses different fromone another in type; and a first communication control unit that, when atransmission request for collaboration information designated by a typeof a controlled apparatus is sent by a controlling terminal, selectscollaboration information corresponding to the type of the controlledapparatus, from among a plurality of sets of the collaborationinformation stored in the storing unit, and sends the collaborationinformation to the controlling terminal, the controlling terminalincludes: a second communication control unit that sends a transmissionrequests to the server apparatus to send collaboration informationdesignated by a type of a controlled apparatus, and receivescollaboration information sent from the server apparatus, in response tothe transmission request; a third communication control unit that sendsthe collaboration information thus received to the controlled apparatusdesignated by the type; and a first collaboration control unit thatcontrols the controlled apparatus based on the collaboration informationthus received, and the controlled apparatus includes: a fourthcommunication control unit that receives collaboration information fromthe controlling terminal; and a second collaboration control unit thatoperates in accordance with a new function based on the collaborationinformation thus received.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a controlling terminal which operates in collaboration with acontrolled apparatus, including: a first communication control unit thatcontrols a communication via a wide area network with a server apparatusthat stores a plurality of sets of collaboration information each ofwhich causes a controlled apparatus and a controlling terminal tooperate in collaboration with each other, the plurality of sets ofcollaboration information being respectively stored in association witha plurality of controlled apparatuses different from one another intype; a second communication control unit that controls a communicationby way of a personal communication means with a plurality of controlledapparatuses different from one another in types; an acquisition controlunit that sends a transmission request for collaboration informationdesignated by a type of a controlled apparatus which is an object ofcontrol to be controlled for operating in collaboration with thecontrolling terminal itself by the first communication control unit tothe server apparatus; and a collaboration control unit that sends thecollaboration information acquired by the acquisition control unit to acontrolled apparatus to be controlled for operating in collaborationwith the controlling terminal itself and controls the controlledapparatus to be controlled for operating, based on the collaborationinformation thus sent.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image display apparatus operating in collaboration with acontrolling terminal, including: a display unit that displays an image;a communication control unit that sends a model information indicativeof a type of the image display apparatus itself to the controllingterminal in response to a request from the controlling terminal; anacquisition control unit that acquires a control program sent from thecontrolling terminal, in response to the model information thus sent; acollaboration control unit that executes a control program acquired bythe acquisition control unit, in such a manner that, as an extensionfunction related to an image display, the collaboration control unitinterprets a command sent from the controlling terminal, related to theextension function, and performs image processing and image displayselectively in response to the result of the interpretation.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a control method of a control system, including a controlledapparatus, a controlling terminal, and a server apparatus, which areconnected to communicate with one another, the method including: a stepof sending a transmission request from the controlling terminal to theserver apparatus, for collaboration information designated by a type ofthe controlled apparatus; a step of selecting collaboration informationcorresponding to the type of the controlled apparatus, by the serverapparatus, upon receiving the transmission request, from among aplurality of sets of the collaboration information stored therein, theplurality of sets of collaboration information each of which causes acontrolled apparatus and a controlling terminal to operate incollaboration with each other, the plurality of sets of collaborationinformation being respectively stored in association with a plurality ofcontrolled apparatuses different from one another in type, and sendingthe collaboration information to the controlling terminal; a stepperformed by the controlling terminal, of receiving collaborationinformation sent from the server apparatus in response to thetransmission request, and sending the collaboration information thusreceived to the controlled apparatus designated by the type, a stepperformed by the controlling terminal, of sending a control commandbased on the received collaboration information to the controlledapparatus, and a step performed by the controlled apparatus, ofexecuting a control command sent from the controlling terminal based onthe received collaboration information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an informationprocessing system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configurationof the information processing system of FIG. 1 to carry outcollaboration processing;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating application execution collaborationprocessing as one example of the collaboration processing carried out bythe information processing system of FIG. 2, showing one example ofstorage contents in the storing unit 42 of the server of the informationprocessing system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining application execution collaborationprocessing as one example of the collaboration processing carried out bythe information processing system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining ID image display collaborationprocessing as another example of the collaboration processing carriedout by the information processing system of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of theserver, the mobile terminal, or the information terminal from among theinformation processing system of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following describes one embodiment of the present invention withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an informationprocessing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The information processing system shown in FIG. 1 is provided withcollaboration systems 11-1 to 11-N (N is an arbitrary integer largerthan zero) and a server 12. The collaboration systems 11-1 to 11-N andthe server 12 are connected with one another via a predetermined network31 such as the Internet.

The collaboration system 11-1 includes a mobile terminal 21-1 and aninformation terminal 22-1.

Although it is illustrated in FIG. 1 as if only the collaboration system11-1 includes the mobile terminal 21-1 and the information terminal22-1, it is only an example for ease of description.

That is, if K is defined as an arbitrary integer between 1 and N, thoughany collaboration information set for K other than K=1 is notillustrated in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the collaboration system 11-Kincludes a mobile terminal 21-K and an information terminal 22-K.

In the following, the collaboration systems 11-1 to 11-N are inclusivelyreferred to as “collaboration system 11” unless distinction ofindividual collaboration systems is necessary. In this case, the mobileterminals 21-1 to 21-N are inclusively referred to as “mobile terminal21”, and the information terminals 22-1 to 22-N are inclusively referredto as “information terminal 22”.

It is assumed in the present embodiment that, for example, the mobileterminal 21 is a terminal which a user is accustomed to using due tohigh portability thereof, and configured by a mobile phone.

On the other hand, it is assumed in the present embodiment that theinformation terminal 22 is a terminal which a user is unfamiliar with,and is configured by, for example, a digital photo frame.

In the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 21 and the informationterminal 22 operate in collaboration with each other to install a newfunction into the information terminal 22, and the information terminal22 is caused to implement the new function based on remote control fromthe mobile terminal 21. Hereinafter, such processing for the mobileterminal 21 and the information terminal 22 to operate in collaborationwith each other is referred to as “collaboration processing”.

As a result thereof, the user can easily (without reading an operatingmanual carefully or the like) remotely control the information terminal22, which the user is not familiar with, by using the mobile terminal21, which the user is accustomed to the use of. Here, “remote control”refers to controlling the information terminal 22 by way of anotherdevice (the mobile terminal 21, in this case) and not by way of a nativecontroller (the operation unit 65 of FIG. 2, which is described later).Therefore, what is referred to as remote control can include not only acase in which the operation is controlled from outside the home but alsoa case in which a user controls the information terminal 22 in sightusing the mobile terminal 21 as if using an ordinary remote controller.

Here, what are requisite for implementation of the collaborationprocessing are a first communication within the collaboration system toremotely control the information terminal 22 by way of the mobileterminal 21 and a second communication between the collaboration systemand the external server 12 via the network 31 to acquire a new functionprovided from the server 12.

The first communication is a communication between the mobile terminal21 and the information terminal 22, i.e., between devices within arelatively short distance, using a personal communication method thatconnects specific devices such as individually-owned devices. Therefore,such a communication is hereinafter referred to as “short distancecommunication”. On the other hand, the second communication is acommunication between the server 12 and the mobile terminal 21 or theinformation terminal 22, i.e., between devices over a relatively longdistance, using a public network that connects an unspecified number ofdevices. Therefore, such a communication is hereinafter referred to as“long distance communication”.

The method of the short distance communication is not limited, and, asthe method thereof, a wireless communication method can be employed thatdirectly transfers a signal from a transmitter to a receiver. Morespecifically, in the present embodiment, a short distance wirelesscommunication (hereinafter, referred to as “infrared communication”) viainfrared light waves according to IrDA (Infrared Data Association)standard is employed.

Also, the method of the long distance communication is not limited, and,as the method thereof, a wireless communication method can be employedthat wirelessly communicates from the own device to a relay device suchas an access point that connects with the network 31 and communicates bywire from the relay device to the network 31. More specifically, in thepresent embodiment, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communicationaccording to IEEE802.11 standard stipulated by IEEE (Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers) is employed.

In this way, in the present embodiment, the collaboration processing isimplemented by combining the short distance communication and the longdistance communication.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configurationof the information processing system to implement the collaborationprocessing.

[Functional Configuration of the Server 12]

First, the functional configuration of the server 12 from among theconstituent elements of the information processing system will bedescribed.

The server 12 includes a collaboration information generating unit 41, astoring unit 42, and a long distance communication control unit 43.

The collaboration information generating unit 41 generates collaborationinformation and stores it in the storing unit 42.

Here, the collaboration information is intended to mean such informationthat enables two devices (the mobile terminal 21 and the informationterminal 22, in the present embodiment) to operate in collaboration witheach other and one of the devices (the information terminal 22, in thepresent embodiment) to implement a new function.

Incidentally, there is a case in which a plurality of pieces ofcollaboration information are used as a set so as to implement a newfunction. Hereinafter, the set of the plurality of pieces ofcollaboration information used in such a case is referred to as“collaboration information set”.

The collaboration information set includes information mainly used bythe mobile terminal 21. Hereinafter, such information is referred to as“mobile terminal oriented information”. Also, the collaborationinformation set includes information mainly used by the informationterminal 22. Hereinafter, such information is referred to as“information terminal oriented information”.

As used in the example of FIGS. 3 and 4, which will be described later,one example of the collaboration information set is a set of constituentelements of a predetermined application code, i.e., a control programexecuted in the mobile terminal 21, a control program executed in theinformation terminal 22, and a command set used in the application code.

Here, the control program executed in the mobile terminal 21(hereinafter, referred to as “mobile terminal oriented control program”)is one example of the mobile terminal oriented information.

On the other hand, the control program executed in the informationterminal 22 (hereinafter, referred to as “information terminal orientedcontrol program”) is one example of the information terminal orientedinformation.

Furthermore, various commands in the command set are issued from themobile terminal 21 and sent to the information terminal 22 via the shortdistance communication. That is, the information terminal 22 carries outvarious types of processing according to commands issued from the mobileterminal 21. Therefore, the command set is one example of suchinformation that belongs to both of the mobile terminal orientedinformation and the information terminal oriented information.

Furthermore, as used in the example of FIG. 5, which will be describedlater, one example of collaboration information is such information thatallows transmission of image data when the server 12 sends and providesthe image data to the information terminal 22, more specifically, the ID(IDentification) and password in the example of FIG. 5, which will bedescribed later. Alternatively, regarding the ID and the password asdistinct pieces of collaboration information, the set of the ID and thepassword is one example of the collaboration information set.

In the following, descriptions will be given assuming that thecollaboration information set is generated by the collaborationinformation generating unit 41.

The storing unit 42 stores the collaboration information set generatedby the collaboration information generating unit 41.

Here, it should be noted that, even though the new function to beimplemented is the same, the type of collaboration information set isdifferent depending upon the model of the mobile terminal 21 or theinformation terminal 22. This means that the storing unit 42 stores aplurality of collaboration information sets to implement a predeterminednew function separately for respective combinations of models of themobile terminal 21 and models of the information terminal 22.

More specifically, for example, in the present embodiment, it is assumedthat the mobile terminals 21-1 to 21-N are different in model from oneanother, and the information terminals 22-1 to 22-N are different inmodel from one another. In this case, the storing unit 42 stores Ndifferent collaboration information sets such as the collaborationinformation sets 71-1 to 71-N as shown in FIG. 3, which will bedescribed later, to implement a predetermined new function separatelyfor respective collaboration systems 11-1 to 11-N.

The long distance communication control unit 43 controls a long distancecommunication with the collaboration system 11 via the network 31. Forexample, when a request for acquisition of a collaboration informationset is sent from the collaboration system 11, the server 12 receives therequest via the network 31, reads a collaboration information setassociated with the request from the storing unit 42, and sends thecollaboration information set to the collaboration system 11 via thenetwork 31.

In the above, a description has been given of the functionalconfiguration of the server 12 from among the constituent elements ofthe information processing system. In the following, a description willbe given of the functional configuration of the collaboration system 11from among the constituent elements of the information processingsystem. More specifically, each of the functional configurations of themobile terminal 21 and the information terminal 22 constituting thecollaboration system 11 will be described individually in this order.

[Functional Configuration of the Mobile Terminal 21]

The mobile terminal 21 is provided with a long distance communicationcontrol unit 51, a collaboration information acquisition control unit52, a storing unit 53, a collaboration control unit 54, a short distancecommunication control unit 55, and an operation unit 56.

The long distance communication control unit 51 controls the longdistance communication with the server 12 via the network 31.

For example, the long distance communication control unit 51 sends tothe server 12 via the network 31 a request for acquisition of at least apart of a collaboration information set based on the control of thecollaboration information acquisition control unit 52. When at least apart of the collaboration information set is sent from the server 12,which has received the request for acquisition, the long distancecommunication control unit 51 receives the at least a part of thecollaboration information set and provides it to the collaborationinformation acquisition control unit 52.

The collaboration information acquisition control unit 52 carries out acontrol of acquiring the at least a part of the collaborationinformation set from the server 12 via the long distance communicationcontrol unit 51, and storing it in the storing unit 53. As shown by thedot-line arrow in FIG. 2, the collaboration information acquisitioncontrol unit 52 can acquire at least a part of the collaborationinformation set from the information terminal 22 via the short distancecommunication control unit 55, and stores it in the storing unit 53, ifnecessary.

The storing unit 53 stores therein the at least a part of thecollaboration information set acquired by the collaboration informationacquisition control unit 52.

The collaboration control unit 54 remotely controls the operation on thepart of the information terminal 22 while carrying out the shortdistance communication with the information terminal 22 via the shortdistance communication control unit 55, as appropriate, based on themobile terminal oriented information from among the collaborationinformation sets stored in the storing unit 53. By way of such remotecontrol, a new function associated with the collaboration informationset is installed in the information terminal 22, and it becomes possiblefor the information terminal 22 to implement the new function.

The short distance communication control unit 55 controls the shortdistance communication with the information terminal 22.

For example, in a case in which the storing unit 53 stores not only themobile terminal oriented information but also the information terminaloriented information, the short distance communication control unit 55reads the information terminal oriented information from the storingunit 53, and sends it to the information terminal 22.

As shown by the dot-line arrow in FIG. 2, the short distancecommunication control unit 55 can receive the mobile terminal orientedinformation from the information terminal 22 by carrying out the shortdistance communication with the information terminal 22, and stores itin the storing unit 53 as needed.

The operation unit 56, which is configured by various keys and the like,accepts user's instruction operations on the mobile terminal 21, andinforms operation contents thereof to the collaboration informationacquisition control unit 52 or the collaboration control unit 54.

Upon receiving this information, the collaboration informationacquisition control unit 52 or the collaboration control unit 54interprets the operation contents, recognizes user's instruction, andcarries out at least a part of the control described above according tothe recognized instruction.

In the above, a description has been given of the functionalconfiguration of the mobile terminal 21 from among the constituentelements of the collaboration system. In the following, a descriptionwill be given of the functional configuration of the informationterminal 22 from among the constituent elements of the collaborationsystem.

[Functional Configuration of the Information Terminal 22]

The information terminal 22 is provided with a short distancecommunication control unit 61, a collaboration information acquisitioncontrol unit 62, a storing unit 63, a collaboration execution unit 64,an operation unit 65, a display unit 66, and a long distancecommunication control unit 67.

The short distance communication control unit 61 controls the shortdistance communication with the mobile terminal 21.

For example, as described above, when the information terminal orientedinformation from among the collaboration information set is sent fromthe mobile terminal 21, the short distance communication control unit 61receives the information terminal oriented information and provides tothe collaboration information acquisition control unit 62.

In a case in which the information terminal 22 includes the longdistance communication control unit 67, as shown by the dot-line arrowin FIG. 2, the collaboration information acquisition control unit 62 canacquire the mobile terminal oriented information from among thecollaboration information set. In such a case, the short distancecommunication control unit 61 sends the mobile terminal orientedinformation to the mobile terminal 21.

The collaboration information acquisition control unit 62 carries outcontrol of acquiring the information terminal oriented information fromamong the collaboration information set from the mobile terminal 21 viathe short distance communication control unit 61 and storing it in thestoring unit 63.

In a case in which the information terminal 22 includes the longdistance communication control unit 67, as shown by the dot-line arrowin FIG. 2, the collaboration information acquisition control unit 62 canacquire, if necessary, at least a part of the collaboration informationset from the server 12 via the long distance communication control unit67. When the at least a part of the collaboration information set thusacquired includes the information terminal oriented information, thecollaboration information acquisition control unit 62 stores theinformation terminal oriented information in the storing unit 63. On theother hand, when the at least a part of the collaboration informationset thus acquired includes the mobile terminal oriented information, thecollaboration information acquisition control unit 62 sends the mobileterminal oriented information to the mobile terminal 21 via the shortdistance communication control unit 61.

The storing unit 63 stores therein information terminal orientedinformation from among the collaboration information set acquired by thecollaboration information acquisition control unit 62.

The collaboration execution unit 64 carries out the collaborationprocessing on the part of the information terminal 22 based on theinformation terminal oriented information stored in the storing unit 63.In this way, a new function associated with the collaborationinformation set is implemented on the part of the information terminal22.

The operation unit 65, which is configured by various keys and the like,accepts user's instruction operations on the information terminal 22,and informs operation contents thereof to the collaboration executionunit 64. Upon receiving this information, the collaboration executionunit 64 interprets the operation contents, recognizes user'sinstruction, and carries out at least a part of the collaborationprocessing on the part of the information terminal 22 according to theinstruction.

However, as described later with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is acase in which the collaboration processing on the part of theinformation terminal 22 is carried out based on the commands sent fromthe mobile terminal 21. In such a case, the collaboration execution unit64 can carry out the collaboration processing on the part of theinformation terminal 22 autonomously eliminating the need for operatingthe operation unit 65, i.e., automatically. This means that the user canremotely control the information terminal 22 by use of the mobileterminal 21 without operating the operation unit 65 of the informationterminal 22.

The display unit 66 displays various images as appropriate duringexecution of the collaboration processing on the part of the informationterminal 22 by the collaboration execution unit 64.

The storing unit 63 can store not only the collaboration information butalso data of an image such as a still image and a moving image. In sucha case, the display unit 66 displays the image expressed by the imagedata based on the control of the collaboration execution unit 64.

In the following, first and second examples will be described asspecific examples of the collaboration processing carried out by theinformation processing system having such a functional configuration ofFIG. 2.

The first specific example is one example of the collaborationprocessing that installs an extension function of an image displayfunction of the information terminal 22, more specifically, such afunction that enables a special image display operation, as a newfunction of the information terminal 22 and causes the informationterminal 22 to implement the new function by way of remote control fromthe mobile terminal 21. In the first specific example, a set ofconstituent elements of a predetermined application code, i.e., acontrol program executed on the part of the mobile terminal 21, acontrol program executed on the part of the information terminal 22, anda command set used in the application code, are employed as thecollaboration information set. Hereinafter, such a first specificexample of the collaboration processing is referred to as “applicationexecution collaboration processing”.

Incidentally, the long distance communication control unit 67 is not arequisite for the information terminal 22 to carry out the firstspecific example of the collaboration processing. It is rather desirablenot to incorporate the long distance communication control unit 67 inthe information terminal 22 main body for the purpose of reducing thecost and the size of the device.

The second specific example is an example of the collaborationprocessing that installs an extension function of image displayfunction, more specifically, such a function that acquires image data tobe displayed from the server 12, as a new function of the informationterminal 22, and causes the information terminal 22 to implement the newfunction by way of remote control from the mobile terminal 21. In thesecond specific example, information to allow the transmission of imagedata from the server 12, more specifically, a set of ID and password, isemployed as the collaboration information set. Hereinafter, such asecond specific example of the collaboration processing is referred toas “ID image displaying collaboration processing”.

In this case, the long distance communication control unit 67 is arequisite for the information terminal 22 to carry out the secondspecific example of the collaboration processing.

First, the application execution collaboration processing will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one example of storage contents in thestoring unit 42 of the server 12 when the application executioncollaboration processing is carried out.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the collaboration systems11-1 to 11-N of FIG. 1 are different from one another in model ofconstituent elements. Therefore, the storing unit 42 storescollaboration information sets 71-1 to 71-N, which include respectivepieces of collaboration information different from one another, butcauses the respective collaboration systems 11-1 to 11-N to implementthe same new function.

More specifically, the collaboration information set 71-1, whichcorresponds to the collaboration system 11-1, includes a collaborationinformation set 81-1-A having an application code (hereinafter, referredto as “still image application A”) that enables an extension function ofa still image display function and a collaboration information set82-1-B having an application code (hereinafter, referred to as “movingimage application B”) that enables an extension function of a movingimage display function.

Here, for ease of description, the collaboration information set 81-1-Afor the still image application A and the collaboration information set82-1-B for the moving image application B are illustrated only for thecollaboration information set 71-1 in FIG. 3, as an example.

That is, if K is defined as an arbitrary integer between 1 and N, thoughany collaboration information set for K other than K=1 is notillustrated in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the collaboration informationset 71-K includes the collaboration information set 81-K-A for the stillimage application A and the collaboration information set 82-K-B for themoving image application B.

In the following, the collaboration systems 11-1 to 11-N are inclusivelyreferred to as “collaboration system 11” unless distinction ofindividual collaboration systems is necessary. In this case, thecollaboration information sets 71-1 to 71-N are inclusively referred toas “collaboration information set 71”, the collaboration informationsets 81-1-A to 81-N-A are inclusively referred to as “collaborationinformation set 81A”, and the collaboration information sets 82-1-B to82-N-B are inclusively referred to as “collaboration information set82B”.

The collaboration information set 81A for the still image application Aincludes a information terminal oriented control program, a mobileterminal oriented control program, and a command set a of the stillimage application A.

Here, it should be noted that the command set a of the still imageapplication A is not illustrated in the block of the collaborationinformation set 81-1-A but in the different block 91A because the samecommand set a is common to all of the collaboration information sets81-1-A to 81-N-A for the still image application A. That is, in thepresent embodiment, the command set a for the still image application Ais stored in the storing unit 42 as data 91A different from thecollaboration information sets 81-1-A to 81-N-A for the still imageapplication A. However, when the collaboration information set 81-K-Afor the still image application A is sent to the collaboration system11-K, the command set a of the still image application A is included inthe collaboration information set 81-K-A for the still image applicationA as one constituent element and sent along with the informationterminal oriented control program and the mobile terminal orientedcontrol program.

The information terminal oriented control program in the collaborationinformation set 81A for the still image application A includes a controlprogram code to receive a command based on the command set a and toexecute a code of associated image processing and control program codesof image processing respectively associated with corresponding commandsin the command set a.

The mobile terminal oriented control program in the collaborationinformation set 81A for the still image application A includes a controlprogram code to accept a command input operation based on the commandset a and to send the corresponding command.

The command set a of the still image application A in the collaborationinformation set 81A for the still image application A is a set ofvarious commands such as “rotate image” command, “move image” command,“resize image” command, and “edge-enhance image” command.

The collaboration information set 82B for the moving image application Bincludes a information terminal oriented control program, a mobileterminal oriented control program, and a command set b of the movingimage application B.

Here, it should be noted that the command set b of the moving imageapplication B is not illustrated in the block of the collaborationinformation set 82-1-B but in the different block 91B because thecommand set b is common to all of the collaboration information sets82-1-B to 82-N-B for the moving image application B. That is, in thepresent embodiment, the command set b for the moving image application Bis stored in the storing unit 42 as data 91B different from thecollaboration information sets 82-1-B to 82-N-B for the moving imageapplication B. However, when the collaboration information set 82-K-Bfor the moving image application B is sent to the collaboration system11-K, the command set b of the moving image application B is included inthe collaboration information set 82-K-B for the moving imageapplication B and sent along with the information terminal orientedcontrol program and the mobile terminal oriented control program.

The information terminal oriented control program in the collaborationinformation set 82B for the moving image application B includes acontrol program code to receive a command based on the command set b andto execute a code of associated image processing and control programcodes of image processing respectively associated with correspondingcommands in the command set b.

The mobile terminal oriented control program in the collaborationinformation set 82B for the moving image application B includes acontrol program code to accept command input operation based on thecommand set b and to send the corresponding command.

The command set b of the moving image application B in the collaborationinformation set 82B for the moving image application B is a set ofvarious commands such as “select slideshow image” command, “editslideshow order” command, “set slideshow effect” command, and “startslideshow” command.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing one example of flow of the applicationexecution collaboration processing in a case in which the collaborationinformation shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the storing unit 42 of theserver 12.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing one example of flow of the applicationexecution collaboration processing for each of the information terminal22, the mobile terminal 21, and the server 12.

In step S21 of FIG. 4, the short distance communication control unit 55of the mobile terminal 21 of FIG. 2 searches for an information terminal22 capable of infrared communication (short distance communication).

When an information terminal 22 capable of infrared communication isfound, control proceeds to step S22. Here, in a case in which aplurality of information terminals have been found, the mobile terminal21 may select one information terminal as a target of collaboration fromamong the found information terminals, in response to user's operationor the like.

In step S22, the short distance communication control unit 55 of themobile terminal 21 requests the information terminal 22 thus found (andselected) to send model information.

In step S1 of FIG. 4, the short distance communication control unit 61of the information terminal 22 sends the model information of theinformation terminal 22 to the mobile terminal 21.

The short distance communication control unit 55 of the mobile terminal21 receives the model information of the information terminal 22 andsupplies the model information to the collaboration informationacquisition control unit 52 via the storing unit 53. In this way, in theapplication execution collaboration processing on the part of the mobileterminal 21 of FIG. 4, control proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, the collaboration information acquisition control unit 52of the mobile terminal 21 controls the long distance communicationcontrol unit 51 to send the model information of the mobile terminal 21and the information terminal 22 to the server 12 via the network 31.

In step S41 of FIG. 4, the long distance communication control unit 43of the server 12 receives the model information of the mobile terminal21 and the information terminal 22 and searches the storing unit 42 forthe application codes corresponding to the received model information,i.e., the collaboration information set corresponding to the combinationof the received model information of the mobile terminal 21 and thereceived model information of the information terminal 22.

In step S42, the long distance communication control unit 43 of theserver 12 sends a list of the found application codes, i.e., a listshowing the collaboration information set, to the mobile terminal 21 viathe network 31.

More specifically, for example, when the server 12 receives the modelinformation of the mobile terminal 21-1 and the information terminal22-1, the collaboration information set 71-1 of FIG. 3 is found in theprocess of step S41. Then, in the process of step S42, the list showingthe collaboration information set 71-1 of FIG. 3, i.e., the list showingthe still image application A and the moving image application B is sentto the mobile terminal 21.

In step S24 of FIG. 4, the collaboration information acquisition controlunit 52 of the mobile terminal 21 controls the long distancecommunication control unit 51 to receive the list of application codesand displays the received list of application codes on a display unit(not shown in FIG. 2) and accepts user's selection operation.

When the user operates the operation unit 56 to select an applicationcode from the list of application codes, the collaboration informationacquisition control unit 52 of the mobile terminal 21 recognizes theselection result, and control proceeds to step S25.

In step S25, the collaboration information acquisition control unit 52of the mobile terminal 21 controls the long distance communicationcontrol unit 51 to send the selection result to the server 12 via thenetwork 31.

More specifically, for example, in the process of step S24, it isassumed that the list showing the still image application A and themoving image application B is displayed on the display unit (not shown)and that the user viewing the list operates the operation unit 56 toselect the still image application A. Then, in the process of step S25,information that designates the still image application A is sent to theserver 12 via the network 31.

In step S43 of FIG. 4, the long distance communication control unit 43of the server 12 receives the selection result from the mobile terminal21, reads from the storing unit 42 an application code, i.e., acollaboration information set corresponding to the selection result, andsends the application code to the mobile terminal 21 via the network 31.As a result thereof, the application execution collaboration processingon the part of the server 12 of FIG. 4 ends.

More specifically, for example, when the selection result designatingthe still image application A is sent from the mobile terminal 21-1, thefollowing process is carried out as the process of step S43. First, thecollaboration information set 81-1-A for the still image application Ais read from the storing unit 42. At the same time, the command set a ofthe still image application A stored in the storing unit 42 as the data91A of FIG. 3 is read as well. Next, the collaboration information set81-1-A for the still image application A including the command set a ofthe still image application A, the mobile terminal oriented controlprogram, and the information terminal oriented control program is sentfrom the server 12 to the mobile terminal 21-1 via the network 31.

The collaboration information acquisition control unit 52 of the mobileterminal 21 controls the long distance communication control unit 51 toreceive the application code (the collaboration information set) fromthe server 12 and store it in the storing unit 53. In this way, in theapplication execution collaboration processing on the part of the mobileterminal 21 of FIG. 4, control proceeds to step S26.

In step S26, the collaboration control unit 54 of the mobile terminal 21reads the information terminal oriented control program from theapplication code stored in the storing unit 53 and controls the shortdistance communication control unit 55 to send the information terminaloriented control program to the information terminal 22.

In step S27, the collaboration control unit 54 of the mobile terminal 21installs the mobile terminal oriented control program from theapplication code stored in the storing unit 53. Then, the collaborationcontrol unit 54 executes the mobile terminal oriented control program.Here, although the mobile terminal oriented control program is assumedto be installed in an area within the storing unit 53, the presentinvention is not particularly limited thereto. The mobile terminaloriented control program may be installed in a memory, not illustratedin FIG. 2.

As described above, in the example of FIG. 4, from the application code(collaboration information set) stored in the storing unit 53, theinformation terminal oriented control program, which is sent to theinformation terminal 22 in the process of step S26, is the informationterminal oriented information. On the other hand, the mobile terminaloriented control program, which is installed on the part of the mobileterminal 21 in the process of step S27, is one example of the mobileterminal oriented information.

More specifically, for example, it is assumed that the collaborationinformation set 81-1-A including the command set a of the still imageapplication A, the mobile terminal oriented control program, and theinformation terminal oriented control program is received by the mobileterminal 21-1, in accordance with the above example. In such a case, inthe process of step S26, the information terminal oriented controlprogram is sent to the information terminal 22-1 as the informationterminal oriented information. Also, in the process of step S27, themobile terminal oriented control program is installed and executed inthe mobile terminal 21-1 as the mobile terminal oriented information.

On the other hand, the short distance communication control unit 61 ofthe information terminal 22, which have received the informationterminal oriented control program from the mobile terminal 21, providesthe information terminal oriented control program to the collaborationinformation acquisition control unit 62. In this way, control proceedsto step S2 in the application execution collaboration processing on thepart of the information terminal 22 of FIG. 4.

In step S2, the collaboration information acquisition control unit 62 ofthe information terminal 22 installs the information terminal orientedcontrol program that has been received. Then, the collaborationexecution unit 64 executes the information terminal oriented controlprogram. Here, although the information terminal oriented controlprogram is assumed to be installed in an area within the storing unit63, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. Theinformation terminal oriented control program may be installed in amemory, not illustrated in FIG. 2.

Meanwhile, the collaboration control unit 54 of the mobile terminal 21is ready to accept user's command operation such as a key operation viathe operation unit 56.

When user's command operation such as a key operation is accepted,control proceeds to step S28 in the application execution collaborationprocessing on the part of the mobile terminal 21 of FIG. 4.

The processes hereinafter are controlled by executing the mobileterminal oriented control program that has been installed in step S27.

In step S28, the collaboration control unit 54 of the mobile terminal 21converts the command operation such as a key operation into a commandcomprehensible to the information terminal 22. That is, a commandassociated with the command operation such as a key operation is readfrom the command set stored in the storing unit 53.

In step S29, the collaboration control unit 54 of the mobile terminal 21controls the short distance communication control unit 55 to send theconverted command to the information terminal 22.

Meanwhile, the collaboration information acquisition control unit 62 ofthe information terminal 22 controls the short distance communicationcontrol unit 61 to check whether or not a command (a component of thecollaboration information set) is sent from the mobile terminal 21.

The processes hereinafter are controlled by executing the informationterminal oriented control program that has been installed in step S2.

When a command is sent from the mobile terminal 21 in the process ofstep S29 described above, the collaboration information acquisitioncontrol unit 62 controls the short distance communication control unit61 to receive the command and store it in the storing unit 63. In thisway, control proceeds to step S3 in the application executioncollaboration processing on the part of the information terminal 22 ofFIG. 4.

In step S3, the collaboration execution unit 64 of the informationterminal 22 carries out processing according to the received command.That is, the collaboration execution unit 64 of the information terminal22 interprets the command and, based on the interpretation, carries outoperation according to the extension function of image display function.

For example, since the process of step S3 is dependent on the stillimage application A or the moving image application B of FIG. 3, varioustypes of image display processing are carried out as the process of stepS3. That is, various types of control processing are carried out todisplay still images or moving images on the display unit 66.

More specifically, for example, it is assumed that the collaborationinformation set 81A for the still image application A including thecommand set a of the still image application A, the mobile terminaloriented control program, and the information terminal oriented controlprogram is employed, in accordance with the example described above.

Here, it is also assumed that the user wishes and instructs to rotatethe still image displayed on the display unit 66 of the informationterminal 22 by way of operation on the mobile terminal 21.

In such a case, in the processes of steps S27 and S28 on the part of themobile terminal 21, the “rotate image” command from the command set a ofthe still image application A shown in FIG. 3 is input and sent to theinformation terminal 22.

Then, the information terminal 22 carries out the control processing torotate the still image displayed on the display unit 66 according to the“rotate image” command.

When the command is sent from the mobile terminal 21 to the informationterminal 22 in this way, the application execution collaborationprocessing on the part of the mobile terminal 21 of FIG. 4 ends. On theother hand, when the information terminal 22 has carried out theprocessing according to the command, the application executioncollaboration processing on the part of the information terminal 22 ofFIG. 4 ends.

This means that, for example, the mobile terminal 21, in accordance withthe mobile terminal oriented control program, which has been installed,converts a command triggered by the pressing of the key “1”, which isusually a key to input the number “1”, into “data 1”, which is a commandto instruct the information terminal 22 to “rotate image”. Thus, themobile terminal 21 can implement a new function of sending a command“data 1” to the information terminal 22 according to the user'soperation on the key “1” thereof.

Then, the information terminal 22, in accordance with the informationterminal oriented control program, which has been installed, interpretsthe “data 1” received by the short distance communication control unit61 as the command data designating “rotate image”, and can implement anew function of carrying out image processing associated with the“rotate image” command upon receiving “data 1” from the mobile terminal21.

In this way, by simultaneously installing the mobile terminal orientedcontrol program and the information terminal oriented control program,which are associated with each other, respectively on the mobileterminal 21 and the information terminal 22, the system including themobile terminal 21 and the information terminal 22 can implement a newfunction of controlling the image display on the information terminal 22by using the operation unit of the mobile terminal 21.

After that, as long as the mobile terminal oriented control program forthe still image application A is not uninstalled and the mobile terminal21 retains the command set a of the still image application A, themobile terminal 21 can repeatedly carry out the processes of steps S28and S29 for the still image application A. Similarly, as long as theinformation terminal oriented control program for the still imageapplication A is not uninstalled, the information terminal 22 canrepeatedly carry out the process of step S3 for the still imageapplication A.

Therefore, the user can remotely control the information terminal 22 inaccordance with the still image application A as many times as necessaryby using the mobile terminal 21.

More specifically, for example, it is assumed that the user wishes andinstructs to move the still image displayed on the display unit 66 ofthe information terminal 22 by operation on the mobile terminal 21.

In such a case, the processes of steps S28 and S29 are carried outagain, i.e., the “move image” command from the command set a of thestill image application A shown in FIG. 3 is input on the part of themobile terminal 21 and sent to the information terminal 22.

Then the information terminal 22 carries out the control processing tomove the still image displayed on the display unit 66 according to the“move image” command.

In the above, a description has been given of the application executioncollaboration processing as a specific example of the collaborationprocessing carried out by the information processing system of FIG. 2with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

Next, in the following, a description will be given of the ID imagedisplay collaboration processing as another specific example of thecollaboration processing with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing one example of flow of the ID imagedisplay collaboration processing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing one example of flow of the ID imagedisplay collaboration processing for each of the information terminal22, the mobile terminal 21, and the server 12.

In step S81 of FIG. 5, the short distance communication control unit 55of the mobile terminal 21 of FIG. 2 searches for an information terminal22 capable of infrared communication (short distance communication).

When an information terminal 22 capable of infrared communication isfound, the search result is informed to the collaboration informationacquisition control unit 52, and control proceeds to step S82.

In step S82, the collaboration information acquisition control unit 52of the mobile terminal 21 controls the long distance communicationcontrol unit 51 to send the request for registration of ID and passwordto the server 12 via the network 31.

In step S101 of FIG. 5, the long distance communication control unit 43of the server 12, which has received the request for registration,registers a set of ID and password in the storing unit 42.

In the case in which the ID image display collaboration processing iscarried out, a new function is installed to the information terminal 22that enables the server 12 to send image data to be displayed to theinformation terminal 22. For this purpose, the set of ID and password isregistered in the storing unit 42 as the permission information ofsending such image data. This means that the set of ID and password isused as the collaboration information set.

In step S102, the long distance communication control unit 43 of theserver 12 sends the registered ID and password to the mobile terminal 21via the network 31.

The collaboration information acquisition control unit 52 of the mobileterminal 21 controls the long distance communication control unit 51 toreceive the ID and password, and store it in the storing unit 53. Inthis way, control proceeds to step S83 in the ID image displaycollaboration processing on the part of the mobile terminal 21 of FIG.5.

In step S83, the collaboration control unit 54 of the mobile terminal 21reads the ID and password stored in the storing unit 53 and controls theshort distance communication control unit 55 to send the ID and passwordto the information terminal 22.

As a result thereof, the ID image display collaboration processing onthe part of the mobile terminal 21 of FIG. 5 ends.

On the other hand, the short distance communication control unit 61 ofthe information terminal 22, which has received the ID and password fromthe mobile terminal 21, provides the ID and password to thecollaboration information acquisition control unit 62. In this way, theID image display collaboration processing on the part of the informationterminal 22 of FIG. 5 starts.

In step S61, the collaboration information acquisition control unit 62of the information terminal 22 sets up a condition for communicationwith the server 12 based on the received ID and password.

In step S62, the collaboration information acquisition control unit 62of the information terminal 22 controls the long distance communicationcontrol unit 67 to access the server 12 according to the setup conditionfor communication and to request for transmission of the image data.

In step S103 of FIG. 5, the long distance communication control unit 43of the server 12, which has received the request for transmission,authenticates the information terminal 22 based on the ID and passwordincluded in the request.

When the information terminal 22 is successfully authenticated, controlproceeds to step S104. In step S104 of FIG. 5, the long distancecommunication control unit 43 of the server 12 reads the image datarequested by the information terminal 22 from the storing unit 42 andsends it to the information terminal 22 via the network 31.

As a result thereof, the ID image display collaboration processing onthe part of the server 12 of FIG. 5 ends.

On the other hand, the long distance communication control unit 67 ofthe information terminal 22, which has received the image data from theserver 12, provides the image data to the collaboration informationacquisition control unit 62. In this way, control proceeds to step S63in the ID image display collaboration processing on the part of theinformation terminal 22 of FIG. 5.

In step S63, the collaboration information acquisition control unit 62of the information terminal 22 stores the received image data in thestoring unit 63.

Here, there can be a case in which data of a plurality of images is sentand stored in the storing unit 63. For this reason, in step S64, thecollaboration execution unit 64 selects data of an image to be displayedfrom the data of images stored in the storing unit 63.

The method of selection in this case is not limited, and such a methodcan be employed that the user operates the operation unit 65 to selectdata of a desired image, for example. Furthermore, for example, such amethod can be employed that the collaboration execution unit 64 selectsdata of an image autonomously without intervening user operation, i.e.,automatically. Furthermore, for example, such a method can be employedthat the mobile terminal 21 selects data of an image via a remotecontrol.

In step S65, the collaboration execution unit 64 reads the selectedimage data from the storing unit 63 and causes the display unit 66 todisplay the image expressed by the image data.

As a result thereof, the ID image display collaboration processing onthe part of the information terminal 22 of FIG. 5 ends.

After that, as long as the image data is not deleted from the storingunit 63, the information terminal 22 can repeatedly carry out theprocesses of steps S64 and S65, i.e., it is possible to change the imagedisplayed on the display unit 66.

As described above, from the viewpoint of the mobile terminal 21according to the present embodiment, the information terminal 22 is acontrolled device and the server 12 is an external device.

In this case, the external device maintains such information thatenables two devices to operate in collaboration with each other, and oneof the two collaborating devices to implement a new function ascollaboration information.

The mobile terminal 21 includes a first communication control unit (thelong distance communication control unit 51) that controls communicationwith the external device and a second communication control unit (theshort distance communication control unit 55) that controlscommunication between the own device (the mobile terminal 21) and thecontrolled device (information terminal 22) operating in collaborationwith the own device (the mobile terminal 21).

Also, the mobile terminal 21 includes an acquisition control functionthat carries out control of acquiring the collaboration information fromthe external device via the first communication control unit.

Furthermore, the mobile terminal 21 includes a collaboration controlfunction that controls the operation of the controlled device via thesecond communication control unit based on the collaboration informationacquired by implementing the acquisition control function and therebycauses the new function to be implemented on the part of the controlleddevice.

On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the information terminal 22according to the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 21 is acontrolling device and the server 12 is an external device.

In this case, the information terminal 22 includes a communicationcontrol unit (the short distance communication control unit 61) thatcontrols communication between the own device (information terminal 22)and the controlling device operating in collaboration with the owndevice.

Furthermore, the information terminal 22 includes an acquisition controlfunction that carries out control of acquiring a part of thecollaboration information or acquisition control information based onthe collaboration information via the communication control unit whenthe controlling device has acquired the collaboration information fromthe external device and has sent such a part of collaborationinformation or such control information.

Furthermore, the information terminal 22 is provided with acollaboration execution function that causes a new function to beimplemented on the part of the own device (information terminal 22)based on at least one of the two kinds of information, a part of thecollaboration information and the control information, acquired byimplementing the acquisition control function.

Thus, it becomes possible that the mobile terminal 21 and theinformation terminal 22 collaborate, a new function is installed intothe information terminal 22, and the new function is implemented on thepart of the information terminal 22 by way of remote control from themobile terminal 21.

As a result of this, the user can easily (without careful reading of anoperation manual or the like) use the unfamiliar information terminal 22by using the well accustomed mobile terminal 21.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to theembodiment described above, and any modifications and improvementsthereto within the scope that can realize the object of the presentinvention are included in the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment described above, a set of ID and passwordto access the server 12 has been employed as the collaborationinformation in the ID image display collaboration processing of FIG. 5.However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Alternatively, those such as an address of an external device includingthe server 12, ID or password to access such an external device, anaddress of a relay device to the network 31 such as a wireless accesspoint, or ID or password to access such a relay device can be employedas the collaboration information.

In such cases, the information terminal 22 can set up a condition forcommunication not only with the server 12 but also with an externaldevice (including image display device), a relay device, and the like.

Furthermore, for example, in the embodiment described above, in the IDimage display collaboration processing of FIG. 5, the ID and passwordsent from the server 12 in the process of step S102 is immediately sentto the information terminal 22 in the process of step S83.

As an alternative to such a process, the mobile terminal 21 maydetermine whether or not the transmission of the ID and password to theinformation terminal 22 is allowed before step S102, and, only if thetransmission of the ID and password is determined to be allowed, themobile terminal 21 may send the ID and password to the informationterminal 22.

In this way, also by determining and controlling whether or not thetransmission of the collaboration information (ID and password, in thiscase) to the information terminal 22 is allowed, the mobile terminal 21can control the operation on the part of the information terminal 22,related to the new function (the function to acquire image data from theserver 12, in this case).

Furthermore, for example, in the embodiment described above, in theapplication execution collaboration processing of FIG. 4, theinformation terminal oriented control program (the information terminaloriented information from the collaboration information set) providedfrom the server 12, which has been sent from the mobile terminal 21 tothe information terminal 22 in the process of step S26, is immediatelyinstalled and executed on the part of the information terminal 22 in theprocess of step S2.

As an alternative to such a process, the mobile terminal 21 may issue acommand that instructs execution of the information terminal orientedcontrol program. This means that the information terminal 22 may installand execute the information terminal oriented control program only afterreceiving such a command.

In this way, also by determining and controlling whether or not theexecution of the collaboration information (information terminaloriented control program, in this case) on the part of the informationterminal 22 is allowed, the mobile terminal 21 can control the operationon the part of the information terminal 22, related to the new function(the function that enables a special image display control, in thiscase).

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a description has beengiven in which the information processing apparatus according to thepresent invention is configured by a mobile terminal or an informationterminal. However, the present invention is not limited to a mobileterminal or an information terminal and can be applied to any electronicdevice having a communication function. More specifically, the presentinvention can be applied to a video camera, a portable navigationdevice, a portable game device, and the like.

The series of processing described above can be executed by hardware andalso can be executed by software.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the server12, the mobile terminal 21, or the information terminal 22 in a case inwhich the series of processing described above is executed by software.

Hereinafter, the server 12, the mobile terminal 21, or the informationterminal 22 shown in FIG. 6 is inclusively referred to as “informationprocessing apparatus”.

The information processing apparatus is provided with a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random AccessMemory) 103, a bus 104, an input/output interface 105, an input unit106, an output unit 107, a storing unit 108, a communication unit 109,and a drive 110.

The CPU 101 executes various processes according to programs that arestored in the ROM 102. Alternatively, the CPU 101 may execute variousprocesses according to programs that are loaded from the storing unit108 to the RAM 103.

The RAM 103 also stores data and the like necessary for the CPU 101 toexecute the various processes as appropriate.

The CPU 101, the ROM 102, and the RAM 103 are connected to each othervia the bus 104. The bus 104 is also connected with the input/outputinterface 105. The input unit 106, the output unit 107, the storing unit108, the communication unit 109, and the drive 110 are connected to theinput/output interface 105.

The input unit 106 is configured by a keyboard, a mouse, various keys,and the like. The output unit 107 is configured by a display unit, asound output unit, and the like. The storing unit 108 is configured by ahard disk and the like. The communication unit 109 controlscommunication with other devices via the network 31 including theInternet, i.e., the long distance communication. The communication unit109 also controls short distance communication as needed.

To the drive 110, removable media 121 such as a magnetic disk, anoptical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory may bemounted as appropriate. Programs read by the drive 110 are installed inthe storing unit 108 or the like as needed.

In a case in which the series of processing is to be executed bysoftware, the program configuring the software is installed from anetwork or a storage medium in a computer or the like. The computer maybe a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware. Alternatively, thecomputer may be a computer capable of executing various functions byinstalling various programs, i.e., a general-purpose personal computer,for example.

The storage medium containing the program can be configured not only bythe removable media 121 distributed separately from the device main bodyfor supplying the program to a user, but also by a storage medium or thelike supplied to the user in a state incorporated in the device mainbody in advance. The removable media is composed of a magnetic disk(including a floppy disk), an optical disk, a magnetic optical disk, orthe like, for example. The optical disk is composed of a CD-ROM (CompactDisk-Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), and the like.The magnetic optical disk is composed of an MD (Mini-Disk) or the like.The storage medium supplied to the user in the state incorporated in thedevice main body in advance includes the ROM 102 storing the program, ahard disk and the like included in the storing unit 108, for example.

It should be noted that, in the present description, the step describingthe program stored in the storage medium includes not only theprocessing executed in a time series following this order, but alsoincludes processing executed in parallel or individually, which is notnecessarily executed in a time series.

In the present description, a system indicates the whole of devicesconsisting of a plurality of devices and processing units.

What is claimed is:
 1. A control method of controlling a controlledapparatus by way of a mobile terminal, the method comprising: remotecontrol processing of remotely controlling an operation of thecontrolled apparatus by sending a signal corresponding to an operationof the mobile terminal to the controlled apparatus; and arbitrarycombining processing of arbitrarily combining a plurality of types ofmobile terminals with a plurality of types of controlled apparatuses soas to allow for remote control in the remote control processing inaccordance with an arbitrary combination.
 2. The control methodaccording to 1, further comprising: storing in advance pieces ofcollaboration information indicating contents of different remotecontrol operations that correspond to a plurality of differentcombinations of the types of the mobile terminals and the types ofcontrolled apparatuses, wherein the arbitrary combining processingincludes controlling so as to perform the remote control processingaccording to the contents indicated by the pieces of collaborationinformation stored in advance that correspond to combinations of thetypes of the mobile terminals and the types of controlled apparatuseswhich are arbitrarily selected.
 3. The control method according to 1,wherein the remote control processing includes remotely controlling anoperation of the controlled apparatus by sending a signal correspondingto an operation of the mobile terminal to the controlled apparatus via awireless communication unit that allows for wireless communicationbetween an arbitrary mobile terminal and an arbitrary controlledapparatus.
 4. The control method according to 1, wherein the arbitrarycombining processing includes receiving the collaboration informationcorresponding to a combination of a type of the mobile terminaldesignated and a type of the controlled apparatus from among a pluralityof the pieces of collaboration information stored at a server apparatus,and wherein the remote control in the remote control processing isperformed according to contents indicated by the collaborationinformation having been received.
 5. A control system that controls acontrolled apparatus by way of a mobile terminal, the control systemcomprising: a wireless communication unit that allows for wirelesscommunication between a mobile terminal and a controlled apparatus; aremote control unit that remotely controls an operation of thecontrolled apparatus by sending a signal corresponding to an operationof the mobile terminal to the controlled apparatus via the wirelesscommunication unit; and an arbitrary combining unit that arbitrarilycombines a plurality of types of mobile terminals with a plurality oftypes of controlled apparatuses so as to allow for remote control by theremote control unit in accordance with an arbitrary combination.
 6. Thecontrol system according to claim 5, further comprising: a storage unitthat stores in advance pieces of collaboration information indicatingcontents of different remote control operations that correspond to aplurality of different combinations of the types of the mobile terminalsand the types of controlled apparatuses, wherein the arbitrary combiningunit controls so as to perform processing of the remote controlaccording to the contents indicated by the pieces of collaborationinformation stored in the storage unit that correspond to combinationsof the types of the mobile terminals and the types of controlledapparatuses which are arbitrarily selected.
 7. A mobile terminal thatcontrols a controlled apparatus, the mobile terminal comprising: awireless communication unit that allows for wireless communication withthe controlled apparatus; a remote control unit that remotely controlsan operation of the controlled apparatus by sending a signalcorresponding to an operation of an operation unit to the controlledapparatus via the wireless communication unit; an arbitrary combiningunit that arbitrarily combines a plurality of types of mobile terminalswith a plurality of types of controlled apparatuses so as to allow forremote control by the remote control unit in accordance with anarbitrary combination; a selection unit that selects one of a pluralityof types of controlled apparatuses; an acquisition unit that acquirescollaboration information indicating contents of remote controlcorresponding to a combination of a type of a mobile terminal from amonga plurality of types of mobile terminals and a type of the controlledapparatus selected by the selection unit; and a control unit thatcontrols a controlled apparatus selected by the selection unit accordingto collaboration information acquired by the acquisition unit.
 8. Themobile terminal according to claim 7, further comprising: a wide areacommunication unit that performs communication with a server apparatusthat stores in advance pieces of collaboration information indicatingcontents of different remote control operations that correspond to aplurality of different combinations of the types of the mobile terminalsand the types of controlled apparatuses, wherein the acquisition unitsends designation information that designates a combination of a type ofa mobile terminal and a type of the controlled apparatus selected by theselection unit to the server apparatus and receives the collaborationinformation sent from the server apparatus in response to the sending.9. The mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein the control unitsends a program or data for the controlled apparatus included in thecollaboration information having been acquired to the controlledapparatus and controls a controlled apparatus selected by the selectionunit by executing the program or data for the mobile terminal includedin the collaboration information.
 10. A control method that controls acontrolled apparatus by way of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:selection processing of selecting one of a plurality of types ofcontrolled apparatuses; acquisition processing of acquiringcollaboration information that corresponds to a type of the controlledapparatus selected by the selection processing from a storage unitstoring a plurality of pieces of collaboration information including aprogram or data for the controlled apparatus and a program or data forthe mobile terminal, the collaboration information being associated witha plurality of types of the controlled apparatuses therein, and controlprocessing of sending the program or data for the controlled apparatusincluded in the collaboration information acquired by the acquisitionprocessing to the controlled apparatus selected by the selectionprocessing, and controlling the controlled apparatus selected by theselection processing according to the program or data for the mobileterminal included in the collaboration information.